Wringer actuating mechanism



y 28, 1935- s. s. HOLLAND ET AL 2,048,741

WRINGER ACTUAT ING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 16, 1934 4 Shets-Sheet l y 1936- s. s. HOLLAND ET AL 2,048,741

WRINGER ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 16, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Jamey .5. flol/wrd,

y 1936- s. s. HOLLAND ET AL 2,048,741

WRINGER ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 16, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS Sid/789 S. Hal/00a, Gard F Wavy/Iber- 0 Re I: N Vey,

Patented July 28, 1936 Z Q48,741.

WRINGER ACTUATING MECHANISM Sidney S. Holland, Gard F. Traughber, and Reuben J. McVey, Kansas City, Mo., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, of one-half to Oscar Rieger and one-half to said Sidney S. Holland, both of Kansas City, Mo.

Application February 16, 1934, Serial No. 711,558

12 Claims. (Cl. 74-387) Our invention relates to driving mechanism, Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6-5, and more Particularly to mechanism of that Fig. 4, particularly illustrating the coupling becharacter for use in connection with domestic tween the upper universal joint and the transwashing machines of motor driven, reversible, mission shaft.

swinging wringer type. Fig. '7 is a horizontal section on the line l -i, 5 A washing machine of the type to which our Fig. 5, particularly illustrating the cam mechainvention relates usually includes an oscillating nism, whereby direction of operation of the member located within the tub element of the wringer is selectively determined. machine for agitating wash water within the Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail perspective view of tub and a wringer mounted on the tub or its the cam collar and its operating handles. 10 base and adapted for operation in any of several Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the houspositions to permit wringing of the cleansed aring for the upper universal joint, showing parts ticles from the wash water to a rinsing tub and of the joint in spaced relation for better illusfrom the rinsing tub back to the wash tub, or tration. to a basket, both' the agitator and wringer being Fig. 10 is a cross section on the line Ill-i0, Fig. 15 driven from a single motor mounted on the tub 4, particularly illustrating mounting of the drivbase. en pin of the lower universal joint.

Numerous mechanisms have been devised for Fig. 11 is a vertical section on the irregular line transforming rotary motion of the motor shaft |ill, Fig.5, illustrating one of the universal to reciprocatory motion for oscillating the washjoint coup gs a d m u of the lower joint ing agitator, and our invention is not so much housing on the tub.

concerned with that part of the machine, its Referring more in detail to the drawings: principal object being to provide simple and efiil designates a tub 0515 O di y d stic Was cient means for actuating the wringer selectively ing machine yp ed o a base 2 0f 01'- in either direction from a single source of power a y Construction. p s ng a bed ring-3 supwhen in any position about its mounting axis, ported by spaced legs 5, preferably arranged in and for combination of the wringer and its drivdia t c pairs and P ed W c ster W s ing mechanism with the tub in a manner to The tub is dap for Containing an agitaavert tendency of the tub to tip under weight of tor of dolly Or ot Well-known p t the wringer. shown) adapted for oscillation by a shaft 6 suit- U In accomplishing these and other objects of ably extended through the bottom of the tub and the invention, we have provided improved details Connected with a main driving Shaft 7 Operable of structure, the preferred forms of which are fi motel 81H a y suitable'mannerntillustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereed adjacent the bottom of the p y 011 m: v the bed ring 3, is a gear housing 9 containing a Fig. l is a perspective view of a washing ma- Worm gear (F g. 2) operable from a Worm ll chine and its wringer equipped with dri i on the main driving shaft 1. Operable from the mechanism embodying our invention. wo m ea b a m H or other u tabl means.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal plan view of the tub supis a pitman [3 having transmission M for oscil- 40 port or base on the line 2-2, Fi 1, part, of th lating the agitator shaft 6 when the motor is 40 gear housing being shown in section to better activeillustrate the device. The driving parts just described, including the Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a motor. form 110 p Of u p e t vention and part of the tub, wringer and driving mechanism, are, therefore, described in only suflicient detail particularly illustrating the wringer reversing and to indicate Operation of the Washing mechanism 45 position locating elements. as distinguished from the wringer operating Fig. 4 is an enlarged, central, vertical section mechanism to which the invention s p icuof the mechanism for transmitting power from lelly directedthe wringer driving shaft to the wringer roll nd n f o the p f t gear housing 9 shaft for selectively operating the wringer in is a Vertical, tubular housing l5 eentaining a 50 either direction, showing the parts in position driving shaft I6 which is fixed to the worm wheel for driving the wringer forwardly. ill to rotate synchronously with oscillation of the Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing washing agitator, although adaptable for operathe parts in position for driving the wringer retion independently thereof. Mounted on the top versely. of the tubular housing I5 is an elbow housing I! 55 preferably of split construction to permit access to a universal joint indicated generally at l8.

The universal joint l8 includes a driving'pin i9 journaled in a split bearing 28 mounted in the horizontal leg of the elbow housing H, the pin by a boss 26 and by a'boss 21 extending from the elbow housing I1 is a gear housing 28 including'a body portion 29 enclosing the driving pinion 28 and driven beveled gear wheels presently described, the terminals 38 and 3| of the housing being of particular construction for adapting the housing to the purposes of'our invention, the gear housing being attached to the elbow housing H by cap screws 32 projecting loosely through ears 33 On the elbow housing into threaded sockets in ears 34 on the gear housing. D

Extending centrally through the gear housing 28 is a vertical transmission shaft 35 having its lower end longitudinally movable in a socket 36 in the lower housing terminal 38 and its upper end slidably projected through a bearing aperture 31 in the cover plate 38 at the top of the upper terminal of the gear housing into a chamber 39 formed by an upstanding annular flange 40 on and integral with the cover plate 38. Mounted on the shaft 35, preferably by pins 4|, are upper and lower beveled gear wheels 42 and 43 adapted for selective engagement with the pinion 23 to effect rotationof the transmission shaft in either direction in response to constant rotation of the driving shaft IE.

Selective engagement of the gear wheels 42 and 43 with the pinion 23 is preferably effected by fixing the gear wheels on the shaft by the pins 4|, previously mentioned, and by longitudinally shifting of the transmission 7 shaft through cam mechanism including pins 44 extending radially from a collar 45 on the shaft 35 above the upper beveled gear and retained in engagement therewith by a thrust washer 45 fixed on the shaft by a pin 41, the pins 44 preferably consisting of cylindrical studs having shanks 48 threaded into sockets 49 in the collar 45, and extended through vertical slots 50 in a cylindrical extension 5| on the housing body 29. Rotatably mounted in an annular seat 52 counter-sunk in the outer surface of the extension 5| is a split collar 53 having inclined, slightly arcuate cam grooves 54 in its inner surface (Fig. 8) into which the outer ends of respective pins 44 are projected, the pins 44 being preferably provided with rollers 55 to afford anti-friction bearing of the pins onthe edges of the vertical slots 58 and on inclined, slightly arcuate edges of the cam grooves 54, thereby facilitating shifting action of the shaft 35.

The split portions of the collar are secured about the extension 5| by stud bolts 51 projecting through ears 58 on the collars, and having a nut 59 threaded on the end thereof.

The-collar 53 is provided with handles 60 of a number and so located about the collar as to provide ready access to an operator of the washing machine standing in any of the customary positions relative to the machine, and is retained in any of its selected positions by a spring-pressed ball 6| slidably mounted in a bore 52 in the collar and engageable in a series of sockets 63 formed in the periphery of the sleeve 5|.

versal joint stub shaft l8 to establishthe driving Rotatably mounted about the annular flange 48 and in anarcuate groove 64 in the top of the cover plate 38, for support therein, and preferably resting on the top edge of the annular flange, is the shank 65 of an upper elbow'housing 86 con- 5 stituting a direct support for the wringermechanism, the shank being readily removable from and replaceable on the upper terminal of the gear housing when the wringer is-to be separated from the machine for shipment, storage or repairs and readily replaced on the terminal for reassembly with the machine.

Slidably extending through and rotatably mounted in a bearing 81 at the upper end of the shank 65 is the stub shaft 68 of an upper universal joint, the stub shaft 68 having a coupling pin 69 projected diametrically from its lower end to removably seat in a jaw 18 located within the chamber 39 and formed on a collar ll keyed to the upper end of thetransmission shaft 85 by a 20 pin I2, the upper end of the jaw I8 preferably terminating below the top of the cup so that the jaw may be completely housed when the upper elbow housing 88 is in place.

The stub shaft 68 is provided at its upper end 25 with a yoke member 13, including a collar I4 constituting a stop or keeper and adapted for flexible connection with the similar collar 15 of a stub shaft 76 rotatable in a bearing within the upper horizontal portion of the elbow housing 66, 30 the outer end of the stub shaft 15 terminating within a chamber 18 in the end of theelbow housing and provided with a coupling pin 19 adapted to seat in the jaw 80 of a coupling collar 8| ,on the end of one of the roller shafts 82 of 3 wringer mechanism 83 mounted on a flange 84 on the elbow housing 86, preferably by means of cap screws 85.

The horizontal portion of the elbow housing 86 is of split construction to permit access to the universal joint mechanism contained therein.

In assembling the wringer mechanism with its elbow housing the coupling jawon the wringer shaft is moved over the coupling pirion the uni- 45 connection, and when the wringer mechanism is to be-mounted on the tub the elbow housing with the wringer mechanism on it is set over the annular flange on the transmission housing, the coupling pin on the universal joint finding its seat in the jaw ID of the transmission shaft to establish that driving connection.

The couplings for the stub shafts of the upper and lower universal joints are identical, each preferably consisting of a sectional link 81 (Fig. 9) composed oftwo flat bars 88 having spacing bosses 89 on their inner faces intermediate their ends forming recesses 88 for trunnion blocks 9|, each provided with oppositely directed trunnions 92 rotatably mounted in apertures 93 in the ends of the bars 88, the bars 88 being connected by a stud bolt 94extending through the bosses 89 to hold the bars securely together and having a head 95 counter-sunk in a socket 96 in one of the bars.

The blocks 9| are adapted to fit between ears 5 13 or 97 on the collars 14 or 15 of the stub shafts 68 or 16 of the upper joint, or between corresponding ears or like collarson the lower joint, and are provided with through openings 98 adapted for registering with corresponding open- 70 lugs 99 in the ears to permit passage of trunnion pins I08 through the ears and blocks so that the blocks may have pivotal movement on axes at right angles to the trunnion 92 to provide the universal connection between the shaft sections. 75

It is apparent that with the construction described the wringer roll shaft may be rotated in either direction when the wringer is in any position it may assume about the extended axis of the transmission shaft. wringer mechanism in any of the several positions at which it may be most conveniently located for receiving articles from the washing tub for delivery into the rinsing tub, from the rinsing tub either back to the washing tub or to a basket, or at a neutral position in which it is out of the way of the operator, I provide a latch for holding the wringer mechanism in either operating position or in neutral position.

The latch mechanism referred to preferably consists of a pin IOI slidably mounted in the base flange I02 at the bottom of the upper elbow housing and in a protuberance I03 on the base ring, the upper end of the latch pin being slidably guided in a socket I04 in a protuberance I05 on the side of the upper elbow housing and the lower end of the latch pin being adapted for projection into any of the sockets I06, I01 or I08 in the cover plate 38 according to position of the wringer; the sockets I06, I01 and I08 being duplicated in the side of the cover plate opposite the annular flange 40 to permit additional selective positions of the wringer relative to the tubs.

The pin I0l is operable by a finger piece I09 fixed to the pin and cooperative with a .thumb hold I I 0 on the protuberance I05 so that the latch handle and thumb hold may be grasped with one hand while the operator employs the other to turn the wringer to adjusted position.

In order to avoid overbalancing of the tub and its base under weight of the wringer, particularly when the wringer is extended outwardly from the tub, we preferably arrange the gear housing 9 adjacent one of the base legs of the machine in order to locate the transmission housing 28 in substantially vertical alignment with such leg, so that the forces resulting from extension of the wringer outwardly from the tub will be transmitted downwardly in substantial alignment with the leg and the leg thus serve as a brace to prevent tipping of the machine. As the position of the wringer is changed and its moment increased, the relative moment of the tub and base is thus increased to stabilize the machine.

Assuming the driving mechanism to be constructed and assembled with the tub, the tub base and the wringer as described, and with the wringer arranged to take articles from the washing tub for delivery into a rinsing tub that may be located adjacent the washing tub (Fig. 1) the transmission gearing is set with the beveled gear wheel 43 in mesh with the driving pinion 23 so that the connected wringer roll is rotated forwardly relative to the washing tub and articles passed through the wringer will be delivered to the adjacent rinsing tub.

When, however, the wringer is to be operated in a reverse direction, the collar 53 is rotated about the sleeve 5| on the gear housing 28, the transmission shaft shifted downwardly, thereby disconnecting the lower beveled gear wheel 43 from the driving pinion and meshing the upper gear wheel with the pinion; rotation of the collar 53 moving the cam track 54 over the pins 44 on the collar 45 above the upper beveled gear wheel to lower the gear wheel and the transmission shaft to which it is attached; the vertical slots 45 in the sleeve 5| restricting movement of the pins to a vertical plane in response to movement of the inclined cam track 54 over the In order to retain the its extended position by contact with the wall of the sleeve until the collar has been rotated to the next adjacent position, where the ball is forced into a corresponding socket to hold the collar in place; it being apparent that the gear wheels may be retained at either limit of their move.- ment to effect rotation of the wringer in either direction, or in a neutral position at which the wringer is inoperative because of disengagement of both beveled gear wheels from the driving pinion.

The wringer mechanism is released for positioning in a difierent location by lifting the latch pin from the socket in which it is seated at that time, and retained in the desired location by automatic repositioning of the latch pin in a socket the worm and worm wheel, the lower universal joint, the transmission shaft, the upper universal joint, and the wringer, regardless of position of the wringer and in either forward or reverse,

direction, according to selected engagement of the beveled gears on the transmission shaft with the driving pinion on the lower universal joint.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a driving shaft, a transmission shaft offset laterally and in parallel relation with the driving shaft, a pinion connected with one of said shafts, gear wheels connected with the other shaft and selectively engageable with said pinion, means for effecting selective engagement of the pinion and gear wheels, and operating mechanism operatively connected with the transmission shaft.

2. In combination with a driving shaft, a transmission shaft offset laterally and in parallel relation with the driving shaft, a pinion connected with one of said shafts, gear wheels connected with the other shaft .and selectively engageable with said pinion, cam mechanism for effecting selective engagement of the pinion and gear wheels,

and operating mechanism operatively connected with the-transmission shaft.

3. In combination with a driving shaft, 9. flexible' joint operatively connected with the driving shaft, a pinion operable by the flexible joint, a transmission shaft extending in parallel spaced relation with the driving shaft, spaced gear wheels on the transmission shaft selectively engageable with said pinion to rotate the transmission shaft in either direction in response to rotation of the driving shaft in a constant direction, means for effecting selective engagement of the gear wheels and pinion, and operating mechanism operatively connected with the transmission shaft.

4. Mechanism of the character described including a transmission gear housing having an upstanding hollow cylinder, at second housing having a base end supported on the transmission housing and rotatable on the cylinder, a transmission shaft mounted for rotary and longitudinal movement in the transmission housing and projected into the chamber formed by said hollow cylinder, spaced gear wheels on the transmission shaft, a driving pinion between the gear wheels, meansfor shifting the transmission shaft longitudinally to eifect selective engagement of the gear wheels with said pinion, a second shaft journaled in the second housing, a coupling joint in the chamber for slldably connecting the transmission shaft with the second shaft to transmit rotation from one shaft to the other, and means for selectively latching the second housing from rotation on said cylinder.

V 5. Mechanism of the character described 'in cluding a transmission gear housing having an upstanding hollow cylinder, a second housing having a base end supported on the transmission housing and rotatable on the cylinder, a transmission shaft mounted for rotary and longitudinal movement in the transmission housing and projected into the cylinder, spaced gear wheels on the transmission shaft, a driving pinion between the gear wheels, means for shifting the transmission shaft longitudinally to effect selective engagement of the gear wheels with said pinion, a second shaft journaled in the second housing and projecting into the cylinder, and a slidable connection between the two shafts to transmit rotation from one to the other.

6. Mechanism of the character described including a transmission gear housing having an upstanding hollow cylinder, a second housing having a base end supported on the transmission housing and rotatable on the cylinder, a transmission shaft mounted for rotary and longitudinal movement in the transmission housing and projected into the cylinder, spaced gear wheels on the transmission shaft, a driving pinion between the gear wheels, means for shifting the transmission shaft longitudinally to effect selective engagement of the gear wheels with said pinion, a jaw on the transmission shaft, a second shaft journaled in the second housing, and a coupling joint on the second shaft including a pin having sliding operative connection with said jaw during shift of the transmission shaft.

'7. In combination with a transmission gear housing, a transmission shaft mounted for rotary and longitudinal movement in said housing,

means for rotating the transmission shaft selectively in either direction, means for shifting the transmission shaft longitudinally to determine its direction of rotation, an angular joint housing rotatably mounted on the transmission gear housing, a flexible joint including stub shafts rotatably mounted in opposite ends of the joint housing, and means slidably coupling one of said stub shafts with the transmission shaft to transmit rotation from the transmission shaft to said flexible joint.

8. In combination with operating mechanism including a shaft, driving and transmission shafts mounted for rotation on axes parallel with each other and angular to the shaft of the operating mechanism, means operatively connecting the driving and transmission shafts, means operatively connecting the transmission and operating mechanism shafts, and means for shifting the transmission shaft to vary its connection with the driving shaft and effect actuation of the operating mechanism in selected directions in response to rotation of the driving shaft in constant direction.

9. Mechanism of the character described including a transmission gear housing, a second housing having a base supported on the transmission housing, a cylindrical bearing fixed on one of said housings, a sleeve bearing fixed on the other housing for engaging the cylindrical bearing to rotatably mount the second housing on the transmission housing, a transmission shaft mounted for rotatable and longitudinal movement in the transmission housing, spaced gear wheels on the transmission shaft, a driving pinion between the gear wheels, means for shifting the transmission shaft longitudinally to effect selective engagement of the gear wheels with said pinion, a second shaft journaled in the second housing, and a coupling joint operably connected with.- the transmission shaft to transmit rotation from one shaft to the other.

10. Mechanism of the character described including a transmission gear housing, a second housing having a base supported on the transmission housing, a cylindrical bearing fixed on one of said housings, a sleeve bearing fixed on the other housing for engaging the cylindrical bearing to rotatably mount the second housing on the transmission housing, a transmission shaft mounted for rotatable and longitudinal movement in the transmission housing, spaced gear wheels on the transmission shaft, a driving pinion between the gear wheels, means for.shifting the transmission shaft longitudinally to effect selective engagement of the gear wheels with said pinion, a second shaft journaled in the second housing, a coupling joint operably connected with the transmission shaft to transmit rotation from one shaft to the other, and means for selectively latching the second housing from rotation relatively to the transmission housing.

11. Mechanism of the character described including a transmission gear housing, a second housing having a base supported on the transmission housing, a cylindrical bearing fixed on one of said housings, a sleeve bearing fixed on the other housing for engaging the cylindrical bearing to rotatably mount the second housing on the transmission housing, a transmission shaft mounted for rotatable movement in the transmission housing, spaced gear wheels on the transmission shaft, a driving pinion between the gear wheels, means for efiecting shifting movement of the gear wheels to effect selective engagement of the gear wheels with the pinion, a second shaft journalled in the second housing, and a coupling joint operably connected with the transmission shaft to transmit rotation from one "shaft to the other.

12. Mechanism of the character described including a transmission gear housing, a second housing having a base supported on the transmission housing, a hollow cylindrical bearing fixed on one of said housings, a sleeve bearing fixed on the other housing for engaging the cylindrical bearing to rotatably mount the second housing on the transmission housing, a transmission shaft mounted for rotatable movement in the transmission housing, spaced gear wheels on the transmission shaft, a driving pinion between the gear wheels, means for effecting shifting movement of the gear wheels for selective engagement with said pinion, a second shaft journalled in the second housing, and a coupling joint housed within said hollow cylindrical bearing and connecting said shafts to transmit rotation from one shaft to the other.

SIDNEY S. HOLLAND. GARD F. 'TRAUGHBER. REUBEN J. McVEY. 

